Earlythismonth,ontheEgyptianIs-优题课

American author Mark Twain once noted that “life would be surely happier if we could only be born at the age of 80 and gradually approach 18.” Twain’s words were only one of many complaints about aging. The ancient Greek poet Homer called old age “hateful”, and William Shakespeare termed it “terrible winter”.
Alexander the Great, who conquered most of the known world before he died around 323 B.C., may have been looking for a river that healed the ravages of age. During the 12th century A.D., a king called Prester John ruled a land that had a river of gold and a fountain of youth.
But the name linked most closely to the search for a fountain of youth is 16th-century Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon. He thought it would be found in Florida. In St. Augustine, the oldest city in the U.S., there’s a tourist attraction. It is said to be the fountain of youth that Ponce de Leon discovered soon after he arrived in what is now Florida in 1513. However, elderly visitors who drink the spring’s water don’t turn into teenagers.
But the tale of the search for a fountain of youth is so appealing that it survives anyway, says Ryan K. Smith, a professor of history. “People are more attracted by the story of looking and not finding than they are by the idea that the fountain might be out there somewhere.”
Still, a few grains of truth have helped to support the story. Kathleen Deagan, a professor of archaeology, says a graveyard and the remains of a Spanish mission dating back to St. Augustine’s founding in 1565 have been discovered near the so-called fountain of youth. Michelle Reyna, a spokesperson for the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park in St. Augustine, says the fountain has been a tourist attraction since at least 1901 and may have been attracting visitors since 1860.
According to the passage, who searched for a fountain of youth_________?

A．Ponce de Leon	B．William Shakespeare.
C．Kathleen Deagan	D．Michelle Reyna

What does the underlined word “ravages” in the second paragraph probably mean_______?

A．Growth

B．Limits

C．Damages

D．Benefits

What is the attitude of people towards the fountain of youth________?

A．People find much pleasure in looking for it.

B．People believe the existence of it somewhere.

C．People have no interest in searching for it.

D．People consider the idea of the fountain of youth absurd.

The passage mainly tells us ________.

A．how the fountain of youth came into being

B．why some famous people hate becoming old

C．how to remain young forever

D．whether the fountain of youth exists

Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage_________?

A．The underlined words “the story” refers to Alexander the Great ruling a land that had a river of gold and a fountain of youth.

B．Augustine, which is the oldest city in the U.S, lies in Florida.

C．Some elderly visitors find themselves younger after drinking the water from the fountain of youth.

D．Kathleen Deagan is the spokesperson for the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park.

Dr. Sylvia Earle wants you to stop eating fish. It's not because fish are endangered, though wild fish stocks in many oceans are very low. It's not because they're bad for you, though fish in many areas are exposed to poisonous substances in the water. It’s because they're smart.
"Fish are sensitive, they have personalities," says the marine biologist. For Earle, eating a fish would be like eating a dog or a cat. "I would never eat anyone I know personally."
There's a lot more to fish than meets the eye: they talk to each other, they like to be touched, and they engage in behavior that can seem very human. They can remember things and learn from experience. Earle and a growing number of animal rights activists see these as strong arguments against eating fish altogether.
The activists also point out that fish feel pain and fish suffer horribly on their way from the sea to the supermarket. "While it may seem conspicuous that fish are able to feel pain, like every other animal, some people think of fish as swimming vegetables," says Dr. Lynne Sneddon. "Really, it's kind of a moral question. Is the enjoyment you get from fishing (or eating fish) more important than the pain of the fish?"
Fishermen and (fried) fish lovers are skeptical. "I've never seen a smart fish," says Marie Swaringen as she finishes off a plate of fish at a Seattle seafood restaurant. "If they were very smart, they wouldn't get caught."
"For years, everyone's been telling us to eat fish because it's so good for us," says another diner. "Now I've got to feel guilty while I'm eating my fish? What are they going to think of next? Don't eat salad because cucumbers have feelings?"
According to Dr. Sylvia Earle, he would stop eating fish as a result of the following reasons EXCEPT ______.

A．Fish are sensitive and have personalities

B．He knows fish very well

C．Fish are dangerous to eat because the water is polluted

D．Fish are clever

Dr. Lynne Sneddon describes the behavior of eating fish in a(n) _______ tone.

A．opposed

B．optimistic

C．indifferent

D．supportive

Which word below can take the place of the underlined word “conspicuous” in Paragraph 4_______?

A．obvious

B．easy

C．impossible

D．necessary

It can be inferred from the last paragraph that ____________.

A．Human beings should stop eating fish

B．We would feel guilty if we continued eating fish

C．People eat fish because fish are delicious

D．Cucumber is a kind of vegetable or fruit

What was the author’s purpose when writing this passage_______?
A. To advise people to stop eating fish.
B. To introduce a topic of whether people should eat fish.
C. To advise people not to stop eating fish.
D To tell us that fish will feel pain when caught and transported

In ancient Japan, if you saved someone’s life, they would make it their duty to spend the rest of their life serving you. Nowadays, if you rescue someone’s story, he or she will feel the same kind of gratitude (感激).
It happens all the time. Someone in a group is telling a story and, just before their big point, BOOM! There’s an interruption. Someone new joins the group, a waiter with a plate of biscuits comes over, or a baby starts crying. Suddenly everyone’s attention turns to the new arrival, the food on the plate, or the “charming” little child. Nobody is aware of the interruption — except the speaker. They forget all about the fact that the speaker hasn’t made his or her point.
Or you’re all sitting around the living room and someone is telling a joke. Suddenly, just before their big punch line (妙语), little Johnny drops a dish or the phone rings. After the crash, everyone talks about little Johnny’s carelessness. After the call, the subject turns to the upcoming marriage or medical operation of the caller. Nobody remembers the great punch line got unfinished — except the joke teller. When it’s you entertaining everyone at a restaurant, have you ever noticed how you can almost set your clock by the waiter coming to take everyone’s order just before your funny punch line?
Most joke and story tellers are too shy to say, after the interruption, “Now, as I was saying …” Instead, they’ll spend the rest of the evening feeling bad they didn’t get to finish. Here’s where you come in. Rescue them with the technique I call “Lend a Helping Tongue.”
Watch the gratitude in the storyteller’s eyes as he stabilizes where his story sunk and he sails off again toward the center of attention. His expression and the appreciation of your consideration by the rest of the group are often reward enough. You are even more fortunate if you can rescue the story of someone who can hire you, promote you, buy from you, or otherwise lift your life. Big winners have excellent memories. When you do them subtle favors like Lend a Helping Tongue, they find a way to pay you back.
Very often, a storyteller cannot make his point because _________.

A．people are more interested in food than his story

B．many guests bring their babies to the party

C．he is interrupted by something unexpected

D．his story is easily forgotten by the listeners

From Paragraph 3, we know that when someone is telling a joke, _________.

A．something bad will surely happen just before their punch line

B．listeners’ attention is often drawn to something else

C．the only person really interested in the joke is the joke teller

D．the waiter knows when to take everyone’s order

How can we help the joke and story tellers when they are interrupted?

A．By giving them a chance to finish.

B．By comforting them to make them happy.

C．By going on telling the story for them.

D．By teaching them some useful techniques.

What is the text mainly about?

A．People should learn how to take turns in a conversation.

B．We can win someone’s heart by getting him back to his story.

C．Telling jokes will make you the center of attention.

D．It is impolite to cut in on someone’s talk.

Can dogs and cats get along well in the same home? People who are thinking about getting a dog as a friend for their cat are worried that they will fight. A recent research has found that if the cat is taken back home before the dog, and if they are introduced when still young (less than 6 months for cats, a year for dogs), it is highly probable that the two pets will get along swimmingly. In two-thirds of the homes cats and dogs have a good relationship.
However, it wasn’t all sweetness and light. There was a reported coldness between the cat and dog in 25% of the homes, while aggression(侵略，好斗) and fighting were found in 10% of the homes. One reason for this is probably that some of their body languages are just different. For example, when a cat turns its head away it means aggression, while a dog doing the same means submission(顺从).
In homes with cats and dogs living peacefully, researchers found a surprising behavior. They are learning how to talk each other’s language. It is a surprise that cats can learn how to talk “Dog”, and dogs can learn how to talk “Cat”.
What’s interesting is that both cats and dogs have appeared to become smarter. They can learn to read each other’s body languages, suggesting that the two may have more in common than was expected. Once familiar with each other’s body language, cats and dogs can play together, and enjoy sleeping together on the sofa.
The importance of this research on cats and dogs may go beyond pets — to people who don’t get along well, including neighbors, colleagues at work, and even countries. If cats and dogs can learn to get along, surely people have a good chance.
Some cats and dogs may fight when ________.

A．they are cold to each other

B．they look away from each other

C．they misunderstand each other’s body languages

D．they are introduced at an early age

What is found surprising about cats and dogs?

A．They eat and sleep together.

B．They watch each other’s behaviors.

C．They learn to speak each other’s language.

D．They know something from each other’s voices.

It is suggested in Paragraph 4 that cats and dogs ________.

A．have common interests

B．are less different than was thought

C．have a common body language

D．are not so smart as was expected

What can we human beings learn from cats and dogs?

A．We should learn to get along well with others.

B．We should know more about animals.

C．We should live in peace with animals.

D．We should learn more body languages.

This March is a busy month in Shanghai. There’s a lot to do. Here are the highlights.
Live Music - Late Night Jazz
Enjoy real American jazz from Herbie Davis, the famous trumpet player. He’s coming with his new 7-piece band, Herbie’s Heroes. Herbie is known to play well into the early hours, so don’t expect to get much sleep. This is Herbie’s third visit to Shanghai. The first two were sold out, so get your tickets quickly.
PLACE: The Jazz Club DATES: 15-23 March PRICE: ￥80,120 TIME: 10:00p.m. till late! TEL: 6466-8736
Scottish dancing
Take your partners and get ready to dance till you drop. Scottish dancing is fun and easy to learn. Instructors will demonstrate the dances. The live band, Gordon Stroppie and the Weefrees, are also excellent
PLACE: Jack Stein’s DATES: every Monday PRICE: Y60 including one drink TIME: 7:00 - ~0:00 p.m. TEL: 6402-1877
Exhibitions - Shanghai Museum
There are 120,000 pieces on show here. You can see the whole of Chinese history under one roof. It’s always interesting to visit, but doubly so at the moment with the Egyptian Tombs exhibition. There are lots of mummies and more gold than you’ve ever seen before. Let us know if you see a mummy move!
PLACE: Shanghai Museum PRICE: ￥30 (￥ 15 for students) TEL: 6888-6888 DATES: daily TIME: Monday - Friday 9:00a.m. - 5:00p.m. Weekends 9:00a.m. - 9:00p.m.
Dining - Sushi chef in town
Sushi is getting really big in Shanghai. In Japan, it’s become an art form. The most famous Sushi ‘artist’ is Yuki Kamura. She’s also one of the few female chefs in Japan. She’ll be at Sushi Scene all of this month.
PLACE: Sushi Scene in the Shanghai Hotel DATES: all month PRICE: ￥200 TIME: lunchtime TEL: 6690-3211
For a full listing of events, see our website.
Suppose you are going to attend an activity at 8: 00p. m. on Saturday, which one can you choose?

A．Live Music - Late Night Jazz	B．Scottish dancing
C．Exhibitions - Shanghai Museum	D．Dining - Sushi chef in town

Which of the following is true according to the advertisements?

A．Scottish dancing is so interesting and easy that it never tires you out.

B．The performance given by the American jazz band won’t last long.

C．Sushi is not popular in Shanghai as it is a kind of Japanese traditional food.

D．It is more interesting to visit Shanghai Museum for the exhibits from Egypt.

From the text we may learn that Kamura is _______.

A．a cook

B．a waitress

C．an instructor

D．an artist

A．is living in horror	B．is peace-loving
C．wants to join the army	D．doesn’t let fighting change her life